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Friday, September 24, 2010

There are actually a couple of ways to win. My publisher is giving away three copies of Winning Mr. Wrong - click here for more details.

And I am holding my own contest. If you want to win a copy of Heart Of A Hero - my newest release - all you have to do is leave a comment and answer this simple question. Who is your hero and why? Make sure you leave your email address in your comment so I can contact you to let you know if you've won. This contest will go until Oct. 1st.

When Summer Bennett returns to Richfield after a five-year stint at her aunt’s finishing school, she discovers a lot has changed. Her father has suffered a crippling injury, and Summer is desperate to get the money to pay for surgery that could allow him to walk again. She hears of a reward offered for the capture of a cunning gang of bank robbers, and her years of etiquette training fall by the dusty roadside.

What Summer doesn’t count on in her quest to capture the bandits is the competition from her family’s longtime friend, Jesse Slade. Now a deputy marshal and local hero, Jesse keeps thwarting Summer’s plans, just like he did when she wore pigtails. She would like nothing more than to use Jesse’s head for a slingshot target, but soon Summer finds her aim shifting from his head to his heart. Problem is, Jesse is engaged to her sister Violet.

For seven years, little Summer Bennett was the burr under Jesse’s saddle. Now he feels a different irritation as Summer is always on his mind—whether he wants her to be or not. But Summer’s father expects him to marry Violet, and he won’t let him down. So why does Jesse find himself encouraging Summer’s attentions, and why do sparks fly every time they are together?

Thursday, September 16, 2010

I honestly can't believe it. I got to hold my second book - Heart Of A Hero - today. My head is still spinning just thinking about how quickly all of this is going for me. Soon, this story will stand next to Winning Mr. Wrong in the book stores!

For all those Christian readers - and all those readers who love historicals - this is the story for you!!! Check out the book trailer to the right of this blog. My friend, Ginger Simpson, did an awesome job putting this story into a video! Love the music, too!

There's a new hero in town . . .

When Summer Bennett returns to Richfield after a five-year stint at her aunt’s finishing school, she discovers a lot has changed. Her father has suffered a crippling injury, and Summer is desperate to get the money to pay for surgery that could allow him to walk again. She hears of a reward offered for the capture of a cunning gang of bank robbers, and her years of etiquette training fall by the dusty roadside.

What Summer doesn’t count on in her quest to capture the bandits is the competition from her family’s longtime friend, Jesse Slade. Now a deputy marshal and local hero, Jesse keeps thwarting Summer’s plans, just like he did when she wore pigtails. She would like nothing more than to use Jesse’s head for a slingshot target, but soon Summer finds her aim shifting from his head to his heart. Problem is, Jesse is engaged to her sister Violet.

For seven years, little Summer Bennett was the burr under Jesse’s saddle. Now he feels a different irritation as Summer is always on his mind—whether he wants her to be or not. But Summer’s father expects him to marry Violet, and he won’t let him down. So why does Jesse find himself encouraging Summer’s attentions, and why do sparks fly every time they are together?

*excerpt*

The deputy marshal must be the one holding me. She let her body relax against the contours of his body. Normally, she wouldn’t want to be protected and cared for by a man, but at the moment she was reluctant to break the spell.

She dared a peek at his face. His deep blue eyes grabbed her attention. Kind eyes. Sunlight glinted off the golden tones of his light brown hair. He must have sensed her watching, for his square jaw changed shape and a soft smile bracketed his mouth.

He was very handsome. She couldn’t have dreamed up a better vision of a hero, and dream it must be because things this good just didn’t happen to her. Safety and security spread over her like a warm blanket and she melted against him, closing her eyes while his long fingers continued to stroke her cheek. It was the first time in her life she had allowed a man to touch her like that—a soft stroke, a gentle caress—and the first time she had ever really relaxed in a man’s presence.

She sighed. Wonderful.

“How do you feel, Summer?”

The soft baritone voice rumbling in his chest seemed oddly familiar. Summer frowned and took a second peek at his hair and his mouth. He gave her a full smile. Awareness tugged at her memory and a large knot formed in the pit of her stomach. When recognition came, it struck like a thick piece of wood right between her eyes. She jerked, moving off the comfortable nest she had made of his chest.

“Jesse Slade?”

A crafty smile claimed his face. “The one and only, darlin’.”

She widened her eyes. “Darlin’? I’m not now, nor will I ever be your darling, Jesse Slade.” She couldn’t believe her rotten luck. She fought to move from his grasp, batting his hands away. “Get your hands off me.”

“Be still Summer, or—”

“Let me go,” she demanded.

“Tarnation, Summer.” His hands moved to her waist. “You’re as slippery as a wet weasel.”

“Quit touching me and put me down.”

Although he tried to hold onto her, she managed to slither from the horse.

“Of all the confounded foolish female stunts.” He pulled the horse to a halt and dismounted.

The moment her feet touched the ground, dizziness overtook her and she plopped down on her bottom. When Jesse reached for her, she slapped at his hands.

She glanced up at him from her undignified position and clenched her teeth. “You. Of all people, it had to be you.” Holding onto a stirrup, she pulled herself to her feet and gazed into the heavens. “Why Lord? Why me?”

“There’s no need to get your feathers ruffled.” Jesse looked at the blood oozing from her shoulder wound. “Look what you’ve done. You’re bleedin’ again.”

She glanced at her injury. It was worse than she thought, but she’d die before admitting it to him. She was not riding into town perched on Jesse’s lap for the whole town to see.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

I want to welcome author, Liz Arnold to my blog. I want my readers to meet such a talented woman and hear about her story, MESSAGE TO LOVE.

Tell us about Liz Arnold.

I started writing in grade school and loved it. Newspaper and magazine writing grabbed me and I have a journalism degree. My favorite things to read growing up were historical romances, adventures, and history textbooks!

Liz, we could be soul-sisters! I love these as well. Is there a book that changed your life?

The book that changed my life was SIDDHARTHA by Hermann Hesse. I’ve read it many times over the years and it’s the only book I can say that about. It combines history, romance, inner struggle, and spirituality in a wonderful, thought provoking way. I realized that everyone experiences the same things in life, the difference is how we each choose to engage in life.

Liz, you have a great outlook on life!! If you could go back in time, where would you go?

I would love to visit ancient Rome. I’m a huge fan of Latin. I think everyone should study Latin regardless of vocation because it answers so many questions about language and customs. People live day to day not knowing why they say or do something and that causes a careless attitude. Understanding the background of anything improves a person’s respect for it. Latin is one of the sources of how and why we speak, write, and live the way we do today.

When you go back to Rome, take me with you, okay? lol Liz, what inspired you to write MESSAGE TO LOVE?

A dream inspired me to write MESSAGE TO LOVE. It was a very vivid, intricate dream about a man on horseback racing through the night with a message in a pouch tied around his chest. It was his mission to deliver the message to someone, but the dream didn’t get that far. The images were very compelling and after some research, I discovered an incident known as “The Message To Garcia” that happened during the Spanish-American War in 1898. I took that event and fashioned my novel around it.

This is great, Liz! I'm glad I'm not the only one who has dreams that inspire me to write! So now, tell us about your story.

MESSAGE TO LOVE opens with Audra Wakely graduating from a girl’s finishing school in Richmond, Virginia in the spring of 1898. She receives news that her father, a tobacco farmer living in Cuba, has been jailed for sympathizing with rebels on the island who are fighting for freedom from Spain. She sells the Virginia tobacco plantation to the nasty neighbor Jasen Angler who has been wasting his own fortune but has enough money to pay Audra for Wakefield. She sets off for Santiago de Cuba where her father is imprisoned with money to bribe Spanish officials.

Things would progress smoothly if it weren’t for the involvement of a U.S. Naval Intelligence officer named Lt. Rollins McBride. He is ordered to find Audra’s father and bring him back to the States to be tried for treason because the government has decided to help the rebels in the freedom fight and they think Wakely is supplying the Spanish with guns and ammunition.

Even though Audra and Rollins share the goal of rescuing Greg Wakely, she wants him free and he wants him jailed in the U.S. They agree to work together to find Wakely but neither one knows that love will blossom between them along the way. When Rollins is away on the mission to help deliver the message to Cuban forces General Garcia, Audra finds her father but runs into trouble.

Excerpt:

“It was a dream, just a very bad dream.” She stepped back out of his hold. Clammy spots of moist heat lingered on her arms where his hands had been.

“I’m all right now.” Audra reached for the door and noticed the sickly sweet odor of liquor on his breath. “You can leave now. I want to go back to bed.” She pulled open the door and gestured into the hall.

“Sorry, but this time you’re going, too.” Rollins strode over to the dresser and pulled out a drawer. “Better pack. We have just under two hours.”

“I’m not in the mood for comedy, Rollins,” she sighed. “I’m really very, very tired. I’ve got to get some rest. Now---“

“Let me make myself clear.” He sounded gruff. “I said we’re leaving, and unless you want to get on a ship bound for Santiago with your shirttails hanging out, better change and get ready.” He made to leave the room. “I hope you have a shawl or something. It’s gotten cooler out, and we have half an hour in a wagon to get to port.” Then he vanished into his own room next door, leaving Audra gape-mouthed in the hallway.

“Who does he think he is?” She growled as she stamped her foot against the cold hard floor. “Infuriating! He is absolutely infuriating!” Audra heaved the door shut with gusto. “These are not my shirttails, either!”

Ohhh, this story sounds intriguing! Liz, where can readers contact you?

Saturday, September 4, 2010

I DID IT!!! Yes, I had my first public book signing...and SURVIVED! lol Actually, I had a really good turn out according to the book store owner. In fact, he told me because of the amount of books I sold today, that I'm now in the top 12 of best sellers. So I'll be back into the store on Monday and take another picture of my book sitting there with all the top sellers. WOO-WEE!!!

I want to thank those who came to support me, and for one particular friend who drove 40 minutes just to see me and buy my book. I LOVE YOU DAWN!

Okay, so here are my pictures... My youngest daughter Heather was taking some of the pictures, but then she was called to work and so my other daughter and daughter's friend, Alisha (who is like a daughter to me as well) finished as my photographer.

Alisha - my 'other' daughter

This is the my youngest daughter being a spaz during the first part of the signing. Crazy girl...

He's buying a book for his wife. Isn't he a great husband!! (hi Cassie!)

This is my best friend in the whole world - DAWN! Everyone should have a friend like this!

My daughter told me I HAD to put this pic on my blog... Just ignore it...

Friday, September 3, 2010

I have to admit, I've always been a dog lover. It all started when I was a young girl and my parents got us kids some kittens...and later discovered I was allergic to cats. It was their long hair, I think. Anyway, the family switched to dogs, and I don't seem to have the problems like I did with my allergies. So all my live I've had a dog. Even in my married life. We had a teacup poodle for several years, but he had seizures several times a day for many years. Before we had him put to sleep, he was blind in one eye and almost blind in the second - and his back legs were so bad he couldn't hardly walk. Poor guy.

Anyway, it took almost two years, but we finally decided to get another dog. My husband has always wanted a miniature schnauzer, so... that's what we got. Today was Jack's first haircut. Now our baby looks so grown up. (sobs) But Jack still a cutie, just the same.

I'm posting some before and after pictures of Jack. I'm hoping you'll leave a comment and share your dog experiences with me.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

I'm excited to show off my new book cover for my next book - Heart Of A Hero, a historical romance.

There's a new hero in town . . .

When Summer Bennett returns to Richfield after a five-year stint at her aunt’s finishing school, she discovers a lot has changed. Her father has suffered a crippling injury, and Summer is desperate to get the money to pay for surgery that could allow him to walk again. She hears of a reward offered for the capture of a cunning gang of bank robbers, and her years of etiquette training fall by the dusty roadside.

What Summer doesn’t count on in her quest to capture the bandits is the competition from her family’s longtime friend, Jesse Slade. Now a deputy marshal and local hero, Jesse keeps thwarting Summer’s plans, just like he did when she wore pigtails. She would like nothing more than to use Jesse’s head for a slingshot target, but soon Summer finds her aim shifting from his head to his heart. Problem is, Jesse is engaged to her sister Violet.

For seven years, little Summer Bennett was the burr under Jesse’s saddle. Now he feels a different irritation as Summer is always on his mind—whether he wants her to be or not. But Summer’s father expects him to marry Violet, and he won’t let him down. So why does Jesse find himself encouraging Summer’s attentions, and why do sparks fly every time they are together?

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Yes, my local newspaper decided to write an article on the new author in the area. (grins)

Since it's small and hard to read - this is what the article says:

Marie Higgins of Brigham City has always loved romance. She has also done a lot of reading and watched movies. Combine those interests with her vivid dreams in which scenes unfold, and you get an LDS romance novel.

Higgins will be at Reflections of Utah Book Store signing copies of her novel "Winning Mr. Wrong" on Saturday, September 4, from 1-3 pm. The book store is located at 47 South Main, Brigham City. Her second book, a historic novel is titled "Heart Of A Hero" and will be in area book stores by the end of the month.

Higgins has been writing since 1993 and she has many ideas. "When I'm writing one book, I get more ideas, they just keep coming," she explained.

The inspiration for "Winning Mr. Wrong" came when she was in the middle of planning and preparing a dinner in her ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. There are a lot of details involved with feeding up to 200 people. She didn't have time to start on the book, but "the characters wouldn't shut up and I didn't have time." But she was able to get the first chapter written and then the characters' voices left her alone long enough to get the dinner taken care of.

Higgins, who works full time at Workforce Services, does her writing on Fridays and weekends. She said the characters are constantly talking to her. "They write their own stories. I can't wait to see how they will end," she concluded.

For more information about Higgins, go to her blog at mareihiggins84302.blogspot.com